Table of Electrical Symbols

Symbol

Ground Symbols
Used for zero potential reference and electrical shock protection.

Component name

Meaning

Earth Ground

Wire Symbols
Chassis Ground Connected to the chassis of the circuit

Electrical Wire

Conductor of electrical current

Connected Wires

Connected crossing

Digital / Common Ground

Resistor Symbols
Not Connected Wires Wires are not connected Resistor (IEEE)

Switch Symbols and Relay Symbols

Resistor (IEC)

Resistor reduces the current flow. Disconnects current when open

SPST Toggle Switch

SPDT Toggle Switch

Selects between two connections

Potentiometer (IEEE) Adjustable resistor - has 3 terminals.

Pushbutton Switch (N.O)

Momentary switch - normally open

Potentiometer (IEC)

Pushbutton Switch (N.C)

Momentary switch - normally closed

Variable Resistor / Rheostat(IEEE) Adjustable resistor - has 2 terminals.

DIP Switch

DIP switch is used for onboard configuration

Variable Resistor / Rheostat(IEC)

SPST Relay Relay open / close connection by an electromagnet SPDT Relay

Trimmer Resistor

Preset resistor

Thermistor

Thermal resistor - change resistance when temperature changes Photo-resistor - change resistance with light intensity change

Jumper

Close connection by jumper insertion on pins. Photoresistor / Light dependent resistor (LDR)

Solder Bridge

Solder to close connection

Capacitor Symbols
Battery Capacitor Capacitor is used to store electric charge. It acts as short circuit with AC and open circuit with DC. Capacitor Generates current as a function of voltage or current of other circuit element. Generates voltage as a function of voltage or current of other circuit element. Generates constant voltage

Controlled Voltage Source

Controlled Current Source Polarized Capacitor Electrolytic capacitor

Meter Symbols
Measures voltage. Has very high resistance. Connected in parallel.

Polarized Capacitor

Electrolytic capacitor

Voltmeter

Variable Capacitor

Adjustable capacitance

Ammeter

Measures electric current. Has near zero resistance. Connected serially.

Inductor / Coil Symbols

Ohmmeter Inductor Coil / solenoid that generates magnetic field Measures resistance

Wattmeter Iron Core Inductor Includes iron

Measures electric power

Lamp / Light Bulb Symbols

Variable Inductor

Lamp / light bulb

Power Supply Symbols

Lamp / light bulb Voltage Source Generates constant voltage Generates light when current flows through

Lamp / light bulb Current Source Generates constant current.

Diode / LED Symbols

Diode allows current flow in one direction only (left to right).

AC Voltage Source

AC voltage source

Diode

Generator

Electrical voltage is generated by mechanical rotation of the generator

Zener Diode

Allows current flow in one direction, but also can flow in the reverse direction when above breakdown voltage

Battery Cell

Generates constant voltage

Schottky Diode

Schottky diode is a diode with low voltage drop

Varactor / Varicap Diode

Variable capacitance diode

Electric bell

Rings when activated

Tunnel Diode

Buzzer

Produce buzzing sound

Light Emitting Diode (LED)

LED emits light when current flows through

Fuse The fuse disconnects when current above threshold. Used to protect circuit from high currents.

Photodiode

Photodiode allows current flow when exposed to light

Fuse

Transistor Symbols
Bus NPN Bipolar Transistor Allows current flow when high potential at base (middle) Bus PNP Bipolar Transistor Allows current flow when low potential at base (middle) Bus Darlington Transistor Made from 2 bipolar transistors. Has total gain of the product of each gain. Optocoupler / Opto-isolator JFET-N Transistor N-channel field effect transistor Optocoupler isolates onnection to other board Contains several wires. Usually for data / address.

Loudspeaker JFET-P Transistor P-channel field effect transistor

Converts electrical signal to sound waves

Microphone NMOS Transistor N-channel MOSFET transistor

Converts sound waves to electrical signal

Operational Amplifier PMOS Transistor P-channel MOSFET transistor

Amplify input signal

Misc. Symbols

Schmitt Trigger

Operates with hysteresis to reduce noise.

Motor

Electric motor Analog-to-digital converter (ADC) Converts analog signal to digital numbers

Transformer

Change AC voltage from high to low or low to high. Digital-to-Analog converter (DAC) Converts digital numbers to analog signal

Crystal Oscillator

Used to generate precise frequency clock signal

Demultiplexer / Demux 1 to 4

Connects selected output to the input line.

Antenna Symbols

Antenna / aerial Transmits & receives radio waves Antenna / aerial

Dipole Antenna

Two wires simple antenna

Logic Gates Symbols

NOT Gate (Inverter)

Outputs 1 when input is 0

AND Gate

Outputs 1 when both inputs are 1.

NAND Gate

Outputs 0 when both inputs are 1. (NOT + AND)

OR Gate

Outputs 1 when any input is 1.

NOR Gate

Outputs 0 when any input is 1. (NOT + OR)

XOR Gate

Outputs 1 when inputs are different. (Exclusive OR)

D Flip-Flop

Stores one bit of data

Multiplexer / Mux 2 to 1 Connects the output to selected input line. Multiplexer / Mux 4 to 1